Safe Church for Children

WESTGATE BAPTIST COMMUNITYA “SAFE CHURCH” FOR CHILDREN

Westgate Baptist is committed to providing a safe physical and emotional environment for children, safe from all forms of abuse.

All leaders and volunteers involved with children in a church related activity are required to have a Working with Children Check.

Procedure for reporting sexual abuse:

Report to the Police. The law states that “Any adult who forms a reasonable belief that a sexual offence has been committed by an adult against a child under 16 has an obligation to report that information to the police. Failure to do so is a criminal offence.” A “reasonable belief” exists when:

a child states they have been sexually abused

a child states they know someone who has been sexually abused

someone who knows a child states that the child has been sexually abused

Report to Westgate’s “Safe Church Concerns Person” (the Pastor) or the BUV’s “Professional Standards Worker” and complete the Risk of Significant Harm Form or the Safe Church Concerns Anecdotal Record Form.

Photos and videos of children under 18 are not to be taken without the written consent of parents.

These requirements are based on The Safe Church Manual of the Baptist Union of Victoria (2014) and the legislation of the Victorian Government’s Commission for Children and Young People (2016).